Moorlands have always seemed like a mysterious place to me. Maybe it is from reading too much English literature in high school and college. A common theme seems to be spirits and marauders frequent them when the sun goes down. If you are willing to brave the elements and underworld you can head out around Derbyshire with Les and capture some fantastic scenery shots and, who knows, maybe a floating orb or ghostly apparition. To see more of the haunting beauty of England and beyond please check out Les’s website www.photographyandlight.com or follow his WordPress bog at http://leswilcockson.wordpress.com

Here is Les:

The Peak District, UK, has a wonderful horseshoe edge of Gritstone that includes a superb stretch around Derbyshire known as Curbar Edge. This photograph was taken early evening on a very cold January day this year on Curbar Edge looking out towards Frogatt Edge. In the very far distance Winn Hill can be seen on the left.

Alongside my commercial work I also run photography training courses and on this day we had called at this location with the intention of capturing the setting winter sun. I’m fortunate to live within a short distance of this location and although I’d been here on numerous other occasions, on this particular day the light was wonderful.

Although I consider myself mainly a black and white photographer, on this occasion I decided to experiment with HDR and color. Using a very solid tripod I shot five images of differing exposures which I then imported into Aperture 3 and from there I processed them using Photomatix HDR software.

I come from just south of the Peak district, and have walked along those hills many times and, if it’s possible, they are even more beautiful than in this lovely photo. Read “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, go and stroll amongst the granite, and see if you can spot the inspiration for her superlative novel. Thanks so much for putting this photo up – more please!

wow! Your photos are absoluetly amazing! I’ve had a desire to pick up photography for quite some time and I’ve always held a picture similar to this in my minds eye about what I hope to create. Hmmmmm… maybe this is a sign that it’s time to pick up my long held dream.

WOW! My favorite since I’ve been folowing. Of course, I have to admit I love all things pertaining to the highlands , the moors and the UK in general. I plan to go there someday, whether to live or extended travel. I love all things Scot and Celtic and this is just another example of the beauty of that land! Thak you for posting this today – as I’m embarking on my own journey and I’m a little apprehensive. Thanks!!
Ellie

You said the “Moorlands have always seemed like a mysterious place…” To me I feel isolation and aloneness when I see this photo. The sweeping visual of the landscape with the close, overcast sky – wow, I’m so small. And I love the rocks: marred, cracked, weather-beaten, supporting new life with the plants growing on and in them. Thanks for stopping by my Post and for posting this beautiful photo!

Not quite Scotland I gather (sorry, I don’t know UK geography all that well), but this reminds me of a statement that a native of Scotland made to an American friend while visiting there: “Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world… WHEN the sun is out!” I reposted this to my blog.

The Knights of the Round Table, The Knights Templar or the Christian Crusades could have taken place here, it has that medieval (or, as Victoria Gotti would say, “mid-evil”) look to it where you could easily picture knights in shining armor charging each other on war horses!